Tube staff taught new way to spot train bombers

Police are using passengers' body language to spot potential terrorists on London's Tube and train network.

They are pioneering a new technique in Britain using "behavioural science" to detect a threat by analysing travellers' facial expressions and conduct.

The groundbreaking tactic has also been launched by airport security staff at Heathrow.

It is the latest weapon in the fight against the terror threat to airlines and follows the Christmas Day alert when former London student Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to blow up a jet over Detroit.

Possible clues for security officers include travellers wearing inappropriate clothing which could be used to hide explosives, clutching their backpacks too tightly, hiding something in a pocket or generally behaving nervously.

Experts say the scheme is an alternative to the policy of profiling passengers, which can involve targeting people from particular racial or religious groups.

British Transport Police Chief Constable Andy Trotter told the Standard: "This is an objective assessment of people's behaviour rather than profiling who they are. The method takes away the blanket approach to stop and search and lets officers focus on people who may be of interest by looking at behaviour."

He described the tactics — called the Behavioural Analysis Screening System — as a sophisticated version of a policeman's old-fashioned hunch or instinct.

Mr Trotter added: "We do not profile, but in a mass transit situation we are dealing with a whole range of different people. The idea is to make our officers more targeted when they are confronted with masses of people."

Heathrow staff are being trained by BAA and, if successful, the scheme may be extended to other British airports.

The authority refused to give details of the project but confirmed a specialist dedicated security unit was being trained in the techniques.

The tactic, which was first developed by US and Israeli police forces, is among a number of measures being introduced by the Government to fight the terror threat.Full body scanners are being introduced at Heathrow and passenger pro-filing plans are also being examined.

One police source involved in the training said: "This is not rocket science. It's about getting people to observe with some intelligence.

"The difficulty with large numbers of people passing through the system is that we have to break down those who may be of interest. It's a bit like undercover officers who target pickpockets.

"After a while they can spot them immediately as they behave slightly differently from average commuters."

The Israeli model

Israeli studies of behavioural patterns of suicide bombers show common behaviour such as:

* Wearing heavy clothing whatever the season. Long coats or skirts may be used to conceal explosive belts and devices.

* The appearance of being drugged.

* Bags or backpacks. The bomber holds his or her bag tightly and may refuse to be separated from it.

* A hand in the pocket tightly gripping something. This could be someone clutching a detonator.